Polyandry

Polyandry is a mating system in which one female mates with multiple males during a breeding period. It occurs in diverse animal species and in some human societies.

Sequential polyandry: A mating pattern in which a female mates with different males one after another during a breeding period. It contrasts with simultaneous mating by separating partners in time.
Jacana: A tropical wading bird whose females may mate with several males, each caring for a separate brood. Jacanas provide a well-known case of female competition and male-only parental care.
Polygyny: A mating system in which one male mates with multiple females during a breeding period. It reverses which sex has multiple mates.
Sexual conflict: Evolutionary conflict between the reproductive interests of males and females of the same species. Different mating interests can shape the costs and benefits of polyandrous mating.
Fraternal polyandry: A marital arrangement in which a woman has multiple husbands who are brothers. It is a recognized human form of polyandry, often associated with shared household resources.
Simultaneous polyandry: A mating pattern in which a female maintains mating relationships with multiple males during the same period. It allows multiple partners to overlap within one breeding period.
Spotted sandpiper: A shorebird in which females can mate with several males, with males incubating eggs and raising chicks. Its divided broods show how polyandry can pair with extensive paternal care.
Monogamy: A mating system in which an individual has one mate during a defined period or relationship. It provides the one-mate comparison to polyandry.
Sperm competition: Competition among sperm from different males to fertilize an egg. Multiple mating can place sperm from different males in competition.
Toda people: An Indigenous community of the Nilgiri Hills in southern India. Historical accounts of Toda marriage include polyandrous arrangements.

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